Sure, the show sucked the final season, but it had a damn good run, and some of the very best characters survived till the end.

Ben was supposed to be an after-thought and die after three shows. That character went on WAY too long.

After Sawyer killed his dad in season three (I think) the writers weakened his character with the love triangle thing.

Desmond was the last cool character and even he was weak in the final season.

I watched through to the end because I was committed but I was so disappointed in how they ended that show. They promised us that it wasn't going to be that inevitable, predictable ending but they lied.

The Shield side-stories sucked. Dutchboy, Claudette and all their side cases were boring. The Strike Team and the main plot were awesome, but the side plots is the only reason that show isn't on my top list.

Edit: Actually I just remembered (SERIOUS SPOILER, if you haven't watched all of The Wire DO NOT LOOK JERKFACE) McNulty jumps the shark so hard in season five that it does really ruin that season. Forgot about that. I did like the ending / message / social impact of the whole series at the end of season 5.

Meh, its not "The Wire" material but its decent television none the less. It is sort of a disgrace that the series had to end on it.

Season Two was my favorite. I've seen the series all the way through about three times and everytime it changes. Season Three is so awesome but Two has to be my favorite. Frank Sobatka is soooo awesome and the whole backstory of why drugs are in Baltimore is so interesting.

The Shield side-stories sucked. Dutchboy, Claudette and all their side cases were boring.

Dutchboy was my favorite (after Vic Mackey, of course) but the writers totally fell asleep and didn't fully develop him, same with Julian. At least they gave the best actor on the cast (Walt Goggins) a chance to fully live up to his acting potential in season eight.

The biggest problem with season five of The Wire, outside of what you mentioned in the spoiler, was the blatant ax David Simon was grinding against the Baltimore Sun. Give it up bro and move on. That said, The Corner might be the greatest miniseries ever after Roots.

Dutchboy was my favorite (after Vic Mackey, of course) but the writers totally fell asleep and didn't fully develop him, same with Julian. At least they gave the best actor on the cast (Walt Goggins) a chance to fully live up to his acting potential in season eight.

Yup. Hey, check out Justified if you haven't already. It has Goggins in a pretty big role and Timothy Olyphant from Deadwood has the lead. Very good, and very underrated show.

Season 1 actually kinda sucked, but season 2 and season 3 (so far) are great.